FASHION
Wave by Marita Huurinainen
The Wave shoe by Finnish designer Marita Huurinainen is definitely one of the most interesting experimental fashion concepts we have come across recently. Awarded numerous prizes, among which Finland’s Best Design Product in 2009, the shoes elegantly intertwine beauty, comfort and functionality.
The Wave shoe wondrously combines traditional Finnish with minimalistic contemporary design. Carved out of a sole piece of wood and polished to perfection in a sinuous, wavy shape, the shoes appear simple, natural-looking and exquisitely sleek. Each pair of the collection features a unique, stylish ‘strap’ made out of leather, fabric or transparent plastic. The designer opted for a completely bare look dismissing any embellishments on the top of the shoe, so as to allow focus on the sole. This yields a timeless look.
The Wave shoe is both inspired by nature and represents a tribute to the wonderful materials it provides. The artist takes pride in her particular approach to design and nature-inspired vision, revealing the secret to her creative process – she finds a raw material that inspires her, toys around with it in unexpected ways, breaks, carves, sculpts it, testing its properties and limits, and only after that she comes up with a specific design to challenge all of her findings and existing norms.
Inspired by Finland’s fabulous woods, she wanted to see what she could do differently with the noble, warm material. The shoes are all the more impressive due to the fact that the piece of wood is bent, curved so as to obtain the shape of the heel – process which had previously been deemed as impossible. Marita took this as a personal challenge and pushed the design and manufacturing to whole new limits, managing to bring to life each piece of wood.
Secondly, for the shape of shoes the artist drew inspiration from the sea. Waves, paradoxically, exude tranquility regardless of how furiously they clash against the shore, exerting great magnetism and allure. Majestic, always impressive and soothing to watch, waves inspired Marita to create the perfect shape of the Wave shoe.
Furthermore, not only are the shoes extremely appealing, intriguing even, but also comfortable. The shape of the sole was projected so that it can fully support the weight of the wearer, distributing the pressure evenly. Also, the open-toe choice was deliberate so as to allow the feet more freedom. Overall, the shoes make for a Zen, balanced, stress-free alternative to regular heels or platforms.
Patricia Imbarus
